NEWSCENTER 5 AT 5:00. EMILY: IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS VIRUSES ON EARTH BUT TRIPLE E COULD BE GREATEST IN A MASSACHUSETTS BACKYARD SO IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF US ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT TRIPLE E. EVEN THOUGH IT IS RARE, IT IS SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES, WHICH ARE NOT. THE MORTALITY RATE FROM A TRIPLE E INFECTION IS ABOUT 50%. THE MOST DANGEROUS COMPLICATION IS ENCEPHALITIS, OR SWELLING OF THE BRAIN. THERE’S NO CURE. THERE’S NO TREATMENT, AND THERE’S NO VACCINE. FEW PEOPLE RECOVER COMPLETELY. IN FACT, MOST SURVIVORS ARE PERMANENTLY DISABLED WITH NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. BETWEEN 2009 AND 2013, THE WERE 10 CASES OF EEE IN THE STATE. AND ZERO CASES SINCE THEN. THIS YEAR, WE’VE SEEN SEVEN PEOPLE DIAGNOSED. SO IT IS STILL A LOW NUMBER IN A STATE WITH NEARLY 7 MILLION RESIDENTS. EXPERTS BELIEVE, SOME PEOPLE MAY BE BIT BY INFECTED MOSQUITOES, BUT THEY DON’T DEVELOP SYMPTOMS. RIGHT NOW, RESEARCHERS DON’T KNOW WHY. THEY DO BELIEVE PEOPLE OVER AGE 50 AND UNDER 15 SEEM TO BE AT GREATEST RISK FOR THE MOST SEVERE SYMPTOMS. SO CLEARLY, THERE’S A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, BUT NOT PANIC. SO YOU DON’T NEED TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY IF YOU GET BIT BY MOSQUITO. BUT DO GET MEDICAL HELP IF YOU DEVELOP A VERY HIGH FEVER OVER 103 DEGREES. THE DANGER WILL DROP WHEN THE TEMPERATUR

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Another New England EEE death confirmed by health officials

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Updated: 6:12 PM EDT Sep 9, 2019

The Rhode Island Health Department said a person infected with the EEE virus in West Warwick has died. Health officials said the individual was in their 50s. The victim was first diagnosed with the virus on August 30 and passed away on September 8th, health officials said. The death is Rhode Island's first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis since 2010 and the first fatal human EEE case since 2007. Here are the symptoms of EEE and tips to help avoid itThe news comes just days after the Massachusetts Department of Health announced two additional cases, bringing the state’s total to seven.A woman in her 60s from eastern Worcester County was infected as well as a 5-year-old Sudbury girl, officials said. The total number of human cases of EEE this year in Massachusetts is now at seven.Laurie Sylvia, 59, of southern Bristol County, died from the virus in August while receiving treatment for the infection. EEE is rare and potentially fatal. One-third of those infected with EEE virus die, while survivors typically have mild to severe brain damage. There’s no specific treatment for the infection.This year, hundreds of mosquitoes statewide have tested positive for EEE, including species that can bite mammals. Typically, the insects transmit the virus to birds."Even though temperatures have cooled off, it is not unusual to see human EEE cases confirmed in September," Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel said in a statement. "This is why we continue to urge the public to take seriously the threat that mosquitoes can pose and to take steps to avoid being bitten."

WARWICK, R.I. —

The Rhode Island Health Department said a person infected with the EEE virus in West Warwick has died.

Health officials said the individual was in their 50s.

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The victim was first diagnosed with the virus on August 30 and passed away on September 8th, health officials said.

The death is Rhode Island's first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis since 2010 and the first fatal human EEE case since 2007.

EEE is rare and potentially fatal. One-third of those infected with EEE virus die, while survivors typically have mild to severe brain damage.

There’s no specific treatment for the infection.

This year, hundreds of mosquitoes statewide have tested positive for EEE, including species that can bite mammals. Typically, the insects transmit the virus to birds.

"Even though temperatures have cooled off, it is not unusual to see human EEE cases confirmed in September," Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel said in a statement. "This is why we continue to urge the public to take seriously the threat that mosquitoes can pose and to take steps to avoid being bitten."